USDA Depletes Contingency Funds to Partially Fund SNAP

Two federal judges ordered the USDA to keep SNAP funded during the 34‑day government shutdown, and the Trump administration told courts Monday it will deplete SNAP contingency funds to provide reduced November payments. The administration said it will obligate roughly $4.65 billion (with some filings citing about $5.25 billion) to cover approximately half of the program’s normal monthly cost, affecting about 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP. Officials warned this is the program’s first-ever partial payment, that no contingency funds will remain for new applicants or disaster assistance, and the USDA rejected using Section 32 child‑nutrition funds because that would create gaps for school meal programs. USDA and Justice Department filings said states will be given tables to calculate reduced benefits, but some states may need weeks or months to reprogram systems and could face delays or errors issuing payments. The shortfall has spurred local and state emergency responses — including food bank and state funding efforts — even as legal and political disputes continue over using contingency funds.